WHAT
Cultural Leadership exists to create a more just and equitable community by educating high school students to recognize and resolve issues of privilege and injustice and teaching them how to Stand Up, Speak Out and Take Action. Our students develop leadership skills, build relationships, facilitate dialogues, and learn how to create change in their circles of influence. Cultural Leadership is a nonprofit educational leadership program that teaches high school students to be change agents and community organizers and what we call "troublemakers of the best kind."
Cultural Leadership begins by tackling the seminal issues of racism and discrimination while providing skills required for making any change in any area of society. Our students learn to dispel stereotypes and promote dialogue, cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect between all peoples. They will be the next generation of civil rights and social justice activists. Cultural Leadership students grab an ally or two or three when they see a problem and roll up their sleeves to get to work. Cultural Leadership is modeled after a successful program in Washington, D.C. Cultural Leadership is the only program of its kind in the St. Louis region.
Cultural Leadership students participate in a year-long program of:
- Monthly educational classes and cultural activities;
- a transformational journey to places that have to do with civil rights and social justice in the US, including NYC, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Whitwell, TN, all over Alabama and Mississippi, Little Rock, and Memphis;
- learning leadership, public speaking, community organizing, and fundraising skills as well as how to facilitate discussions on issues of racism, diversity, and discrimination.
There are 425 hours of programming in all.
WHO
Cultural Leadership is open to up to 36 sophomores and juniors in the St. Louis region who have demonstrated maturity, curiosity, interest in the community, and leadership potential. Parents/guardians meet regularly while their children are in the program to provide a parallel experience and support student development. We are the only program with this parent component.
WHY
St. Louis is a community that desperately needs racial healing and greater understanding. Examples of mistrust, disrespect, intolerance, and misunderstanding abound. According to the FOCUS St. Louis report Racial Equality in the St. Louis Region: A Call to Action, St. Louis is one of the most racially segregated, racially polarized metropolitan areas in the country. It is a challenging and complex problem that is firmly entrenched in our region. Our students learn to replace prejudice with facts, ignorance with knowledge, and suspicion with friendship among its participants and their families. Cultural Leadership students are given the tools to bring about social change.
WHEN
Cultural Leadership recruits students in the fall at the start of their sophomore or junior year. Interviews and selection occur in December. The program begins in January and students meet monthly on Sundays, attend three weekend retreats, a three-week study trip (see above), and various other activities. Students graduate from the program the following January; however, they continue their involvement beyond graduation with public speeches and facilitation sessions on issues of discrimination and diversity. For most, this becomes a commitment they carry with them through college and into their careers.
HOW MUCH
The budget for Cultural Leadership for 2010 is $300,000. The organization receives support from individuals, corporations, and foundations. With this support, Cultural Leadership is changing the face of race relations – indeed, all forms of discrimination – in St. Louis to make it and the wider community more inclusive and socially just. To help offset the costs of feeding students during the summer trip, Cultural Leadership requires a $400 contribution from parents/families and $200 from student participants.
For more information, visit the Cultural Leadership website.